UltraGauge for $60?? [Archive] - Toyota Yaris Forums

Shinare

12-15-2010, 10:28 AM

Just saw this on HD Theater channel last night. And after I just spent $40 on an ecometer! Dangit!

Oh well, my flub-up is your gain. I thought I would post about it if anyone knows anything about this or has had or getting one they could discuss.

Linky-poo (http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/index.htm)

hatchbackkid82

12-15-2010, 10:52 AM

lol I saw this yesterday too, were you watching "Chasing classic cars"?

Shinare

12-15-2010, 11:10 AM

^ Yup!

OTB

12-15-2010, 03:41 PM

I like the display better than the scangauge! If the RPM's refresh faster than scangauge, then it would be pretty sweet.

CTScott

12-15-2010, 05:07 PM

That looks like a really nice product for a great price. Something like this really demonstrates how manufacturing a product in China might not help the US economy, but it sure is a win for the US consumer.

Shinare

12-15-2010, 05:37 PM

This would have already been on the way to me if I had not just purchased an ecometer. Love the trouble codes features and the reset of the check engine light.

toast

12-18-2010, 11:43 PM

buy it. i refunded your $$ on the ecometer. merry xmas

TEHxFALLEN V1.2

12-19-2010, 01:50 AM

Did some research on it, and now I want it.

It's $68.95 before the $9.00 rebate.

cali yaris

12-19-2010, 03:01 PM

^ Looks like a great device. But no way to directly contact them? FTL.

henry33

12-19-2010, 03:02 PM

it is great device but doesn't support metrics :(

Shinare

12-19-2010, 03:11 PM

buy it. i refunded your $$ on the ecometer. merry xmas

Thank you, thats really very awesome of you and completely unexpected! Merry Christmas to you too!

annn

12-19-2010, 03:20 PM

I have a sg2 but like this better ... If it works well I will use this in the yaris and move the sg to my Tacoma...

sickpuppy1

12-19-2010, 07:48 PM

Man, and I just got a $100 gift card for Christmas from my sister!! I was just about to pull the trigger and thought,ya know, I can figure mileage and stuff....I reall want better tunes in my car. I think I'll go shopping at Crutchfield this time.

annn

12-19-2010, 08:39 PM

I don't even use my sg for mileage.. It all about the guages and code access...

3dr5speedblk

12-19-2010, 11:16 PM

lol I saw this yesterday too, were you watching "Chasing classic cars"?

I wonder if its backlit??60 bucks seems cheap?
http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/index.htm

annn

12-20-2010, 12:20 AM

Blue backlit

KrazyDawg

12-20-2010, 11:52 AM

CTScott

12-20-2010, 12:03 PM

I believe the ScanGauge still has more compatiblity than both the UltraGauge and EcoMeter. On ScanGauge's website they list most post-1995 cars for compatiblity while the EcoMeter and UltraGauge rely on something called CAN that most 2008+ cars support.

CAN Bus became a requirement for OBDII in 2008, although many manufacturers (like Toyota) had switched from ISO-9141 to CAN (ISO-15765) a couple years earlier. Most pre-CAN bus vehicles don't support the PIDs (Parameter ID's) necessary to calculate MPGs. For example, If I plug my scangauge II into my 2004 Xterra it can't display MPG.

annn

12-23-2010, 10:09 PM

Mine is in...so far or works great..fits in the yaris better than the sc2 ...more ltr

annn

12-24-2010, 02:42 PM

http://i55.tinypic.com/11glis1.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/20ts7qh.jpg

Shinare

12-30-2010, 12:48 PM

Finally got mine ordered today!! On its way! WooHoo!

jjwitter

12-30-2010, 06:45 PM

Ordered mine a few days ago, found out today it's at the post office, will pick up tomorrow and see how good it really is

eii

12-31-2010, 12:26 AM

@annn is that auxiliary plugged into the UG? what does it do?

annn

12-31-2010, 12:39 AM

@annn is that auxiliary plugged into the UG? what does it do?

No...added that pic in error,it's just the mp3,fogs,sub knob,power lock array...guage plugs into obd2 under dash

jjwitter

01-03-2011, 01:55 PM

Installed mine yesterday, works great, I just need to calibrate it a little

Shinare

01-03-2011, 05:21 PM

Just checked my order status and it still says "processing"... :(

Hope they just dont update that.

Shinare

01-05-2011, 01:26 PM

I have not yet received my UltraGauge yet and contacted their support. They gave me the USPS tracking number which indicates that it was delivered to my house two days ago.

I never received it. :( I guess it was stolen off my porch or something. That really pisses me off.

Shinare

01-05-2011, 03:39 PM

UPDATE: Went home for lunch and looked. Found it hidden in my bushes! WooHoo!

Revsson

01-06-2011, 01:22 AM

What's this gonna do to CTScott's YarGauge sales?

Shinare

01-06-2011, 10:41 AM

Well, bad news for me, but good news for CTScott, mine arrived DOA and so far having to discuss the problem in a forum thread type support system sucks. Waiting on the support person's reply is only half the suckyness. The other half is trying to convey the problem in the first place in such a stop/start manor. I still haven't gotten confirmation from them that I will be sending it back or an RMA number or anything.

I explained to them that the ecometer did and still does work in the OBDII port but their gauge doesn't even power on. Their response was "This is odd since all UGs are tested just prior to shipping."

I don't know if thats meant to call me a liar or if thats meant to reassure me that I'm a "1 in a million" problem. Either way I just want to send it back and get a replacement. *sigh* just my stinkin luck I guess.

I must add that they've been very cordial throughout the process so I don't have anything bad to say about them yet. Still waiting on a response with an RMA number and send back instructions.

WeeYari

01-06-2011, 11:46 AM

I know pictures quite often don't do things justice, but from annn's photo, the construction of that thing looks cheap as hell.

Shinare

01-06-2011, 12:27 PM

^^ Once you receive the item the first thing you see when you open the box is a yellow insert that directs you to the website address for "Before You Start". The thing that really stands out to me about those instructions are the extreme emphasis they put on taking care not to break the unit. (Which end user breaking of the unit it not covered under warranty). Going so far as to put a "test question" at the end of each page to make sure you read and understand the page. Things like "Do not adjust the position of the gauge by grabbing the gauge, but by the neck of the window mount", or "do not leave the gauge on the dashboard on hot summer days or if the temperature drops below -20F." Doing so voids the warranty.

PS> Still no word back on a return authorization.

annn

01-06-2011, 12:37 PM

Ultra works great ,way better looking than scan guage and way smarter.mine works great and my friends does too. I like the product so far and have moved my scangage to my Tacoma it fits in better with a truck interior IMO. I would buy another...

I just downloaded the PDF manual and avoided all their hoops,I agree they have a weird set up policy but their is ways around it .

EckoDG

01-06-2011, 01:17 PM

ill wait for more feedbacks to buy, looks cheap, cheap things somethings go spensier..

annn

01-06-2011, 01:21 PM

ill wait for more feedbacks to buy, looks cheap, cheap things somethings go spensier..

google search ...tons of feedback..before i got mine i checked it out a lot.

Shinare

01-06-2011, 01:25 PM

UPDATE: I just got a pre-paid return postage label sent to me! I wasn't expecting that and am glad they stepped up. So far, even though I was unlucky enough to receive one that was not working, they've been responsive and fair, even if it is just a thread style support system.

eii

01-06-2011, 07:33 PM

I got mine today, had to go to work before I could spend a lot of time messing with it. Its surprisingly thinner than I had imagined. Its light, but doesnt seem flimsy. I was able to plug it in and configure engine size and tank size. The default gauges you start off with are instant mpg and average mpg. Display looks clean and is pretty big. I like the screen a lot better than the SG one.

OTB

01-06-2011, 07:38 PM

So, I ran a Scangauge II for a year, and when I saw the info on the ultragauge (thanks to the original poster), I decided to sell the SCII for more money than my brand new UG.

SO.......I like it way better than Scangauge! It can display 6 gauges simultaneously and 3X that on the different gauge screens. I like the display, two of the six are in large font, larger than the scangauge can display. The color is a good blueish/grayscale with good automatic backlight (still user adjustable, but it seems good day and night, and compensates for ambient light conditions.)

I basically use it for water temp, rpm, intake air temp. For troubleshooting beyond "trouble codes" it does come in handy to use the other gauges.

You cannot use this as an instantaneous tach. Even with only two gauges turned on and all other alarms turned off, I tried to use an alarm as a "shift light." Not gonna happen. Way too much lag for a shift light. Maybe (big maybe) if all you did was drag race-you could find just the right lag (like 3200 rpm alarm) that would time things just right for a shift alarm, but for road course or autocross, no chance.

I personally don't really give two f___s about fuel economy/range/etc, so I can't comment on those functions, but it seems to certainly be capable of the same measurements that scangauge can do.

I just use tin snips to cut then bend an "L" out of an old license plate, velcroed the L to the steering column, and zip-tied the x-shaped bracket that holds the display to the vertical of the L. Works awesome, mounted it in 5 minutes.

I declare scangauge obsolete.

cheers

awdblazer

01-06-2011, 10:35 PM

post pics!!

So, I ran a Scangauge II for a year, and when I saw the info on the ultragauge (thanks to the original poster), I decided to sell the SCII for more money than my brand new UG.

SO.......I like it way better than Scangauge! It can display 6 gauges simultaneously and 3X that on the different gauge screens. I like the display, two of the six are in large font, larger than the scangauge can display. The color is a good blueish/grayscale with good automatic backlight (still user adjustable, but it seems good day and night, and compensates for ambient light conditions.)

I basically use it for water temp, rpm, intake air temp. For troubleshooting beyond "trouble codes" it does come in handy to use the other gauges.

You cannot use this as an instantaneous tach. Even with only two gauges turned on and all other alarms turned off, I tried to use an alarm as a "shift light." Not gonna happen. Way too much lag for a shift light. Maybe (big maybe) if all you did was drag race-you could find just the right lag (like 3200 rpm alarm) that would time things just right for a shift alarm, but for road course or autocross, no chance.

I personally don't really give two f___s about fuel economy/range/etc, so I can't comment on those functions, but it seems to certainly be capable of the same measurements that scangauge can do.

I just use tin snips to cut then bend an "L" out of an old license plate, velcroed the L to the steering column, and zip-tied the x-shaped bracket that holds the display to the vertical of the L. Works awesome, mounted it in 5 minutes.

I declare scangauge obsolete.

cheers

OTB

01-13-2011, 12:58 PM

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i134/casual540/Yaris/IMG_0784.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i134/casual540/Yaris/IMG_0781.jpg

annn

01-13-2011, 01:37 PM

:biggrin: I also declare scanguage old school...it has been reduced to duty in my tacoma and it looks good in a truck interior..imo.

cali yaris

01-13-2011, 05:21 PM

I inquired about dealer/wholesale pricing:

Garm,

There will be a significant product enhancement release in February. Please check back with us after the release.

Best regards,

UltraGauge Support
http://www.ultra-gauge.com

Shinare

01-13-2011, 05:29 PM

Doh!

Hope its a bigger screen and TOUCH screen as well. (When I first saw it I was expecting both)

Shinare

01-17-2011, 12:27 AM

My replacement ultragauge came in and its working fine. I mounted it using the bent license plate technique described earlier and worked like a champ. Very Nice.

henry33

01-17-2011, 11:03 AM

can you please find out when the metrics will be supported ?
thanks :)

Midnight Drifter

01-17-2011, 06:07 PM

I'm almost positive they can be switched to Metric, since Canada also uses that backward-assed system. :p can somebody please verify this?

Shinare

01-17-2011, 08:44 PM

I "skimmed" the user manual and also did a "find" on it and found no mention of metric units.

sickpuppy1

01-17-2011, 10:42 PM

When you click on the gauges link from the main page, on their web site it says right after the 1st paragraph," Please note: UltraGauge currently does not support metric units."

Drama

01-17-2011, 11:32 PM

I got one 3 weeks ago, And so far I love it.

henry33

01-18-2011, 04:21 AM

I know. it doesn't support metrics :( but do you know if they plan to implement it ?
can somebody make a video how the gauge works ?

Shinare

01-18-2011, 09:30 PM

CTScott

01-18-2011, 09:53 PM

The only gauge not available to me that I'd really like to have is "Ambient Air Temperature" (amb temp) which I thought the yaris could do because I thought the sensor for that was in the front in the bumper on the drivers side... oh well. So I have it on intake temp which is no where near outside air temp... Gauge setup:

A- Instant MPG
B- Tachometer
C- Engine Temp in F
D- Intake Temp in F
E- Fuel Level
F- Avg MPG

2010+ Yaris respond to the ambient temp PID (so perhaps ambient will work on them). Pre-2010's don't, so the only way to use the AC's ambient temp sensor is to ask the AC ECU for ambient temp (which is what I do with the YarGauge).

Shinare

01-19-2011, 12:26 PM

CTScott

01-19-2011, 01:25 PM

That's cool Scott, hence why your gauge will be better suited for the specific use in a Yais. The other complaint I have with the UltraGauge is it's update speed. It is currently once per second, but it sure would be nice if it were a half or a third of that at least (2 or 3 times per second). I would be very happy with 3 times a second. Is that a limitation of the gauge or the CAN bus itself?

Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the new gauge, just saying it could be better.

There's a limit with CAN OBD as to how frequently you can send requests. When a device like the Ultragauge is displaying multiple pieces of data at one time (and where some like MPG require 3 separate requests to perform the calculation) they quickly hit the limit. The way around that is to decode the OEM messages that fly across the bus between systems, but that makes it manufacturer specific.

Shinare

01-19-2011, 05:57 PM

I know. it doesn't support metrics :( but do you know if they plan to implement it ?
can somebody make a video how the gauge works ?

I took this at lunch per your request:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7OMv6BrC6c

Sorry about the poor quality overall of the cellphone craptasticness, but especially of the driving section, I had the white balance messed up.

(heres a lot better of one than mine I found on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWWEiR3Ag0Q)